Surname Weichold - Meaning and Origin
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Weichold: What does the surname Weichold mean?
The last name Weichold is of German origin. It is thought to be a combination of two German words, "weich", which means soft, and "hold", meaning a guardian or defender. In the Middle Ages, the name referred to someone who was a protector, such as a feudal lord, magistrate, or castle guard. Over time, the name has spread to other parts of the world.
The term Weichold today can be seen in many ways, as it is an uncommon surname. The given name is still used in Germany, but it is also seen in the United States, where it is sometimes spelled differently, such as "Weisboldt" or "Wichelhold".
There is much speculation about the etymological roots of the Weichold name. It is believed that it is connected to the Old High German word "weichelm", which referring to a protector or guardian. This is an understandable theory, as many of today's Weicholds are known for being dedicated to their families and communities.
The name Weichold is now seen as a symbol of protection, guardianship and loyalty, which speaks to the character of the people who have borne it over the centuries. Those who carry this name can take pride in its noble origins and the important role that their ancestors held in society.
Order DNA origin analysisWeichold: Where does the name Weichold come from?
The last name Weichold is most common today in the German speaking countries of Europe, namely Germany, Austria and Switzerland. This is due to the fact that numerous German immigrants brought the name to other countries such as the United States in the 19th century.
Weichold is an occupational surname, derived from the German word “wichen” meaning “weaving” or “to weave”. The name refers to a weaver, one who worked with wool in the early Middle Ages. Those who bore the name were likely to have been journeymen or helpers of tailors and wool workers.
The frequency of this last name diffiers between regions. In Germany, Austria and Switzerland it is considered one of the top one hundred most popular surnames. In fact, it is estimated that around three hundred thousand people bear the name Weichold in Germany alone.
In the United States, the name Weichold remains comparatively rare. Only about four thousand two hundred people share the name, with most located in upstate New York and New Jersey. Some Weicholds have also found their way to Canada where, according to the 2016 census, about seven hundred people carry this name.
Overall, the last name Weichold is most common in the countries of the German-speaking region, as well as in some parts of the United States and Canada where German immigrants settled in the 19th century.
Variations of the surname Weichold
The surname Weichold is of German origin. It is derived from the Old High German root words weichi, which means "bend," and walt, which means "lord," or "ruler." This translates to the meaning of "bend lord" or "bend ruler." Historically, the Weichold surname has been spelled in numerous ways such as Weychold, Wechold, Weichtold, Weichel, Weygand, Weygant, Waykland, Waiglant, Waigant, and Waißgold.
Variant spellings of the name are also known, with Wegyptold, Weichtul, Weick, Wisigold, Weik, Yusigold, Uisigold, Weiye, Weichtal, Weichsdorfer, Wayks, Weickold, Weichul, Wack, Weikul, Weye, Weigand, Weigelt, Weichtel, and Weich being among the most common.
The surnames Weyhaupt, Weissel, Wieser, Weise, and Weegmuller are also linked to the Weichold family.
In America, some members of the family adopted the anglicized spelling of Wayhold, Wehold, or Waychold. Furthermore, several variations were borne by twelfth-century Jewish immigrants to Germany, including Weihs, Weisz, Weisinger, Weisbrod, Weisinger, Weisinger, and Weissel.
In some parts of Europe, the surname Weichold occurred in various forms such as Vechold, Weychtold, Wechtold, Wechtold, Weijgand, Weychold, Weißgold, Weydandt, Waiglant, and Weigant.
The alternative spelling of Weichold in German languages is Wajchold. This is also spelled as Wajghold, Weyhold, Wayhold, Wajhold, and Wajhald in Austrian dialects of German.
In Poland, the surname Weichold is usually spelled as Weyhold, Wayholdt, Wejhold, Weychol, Weyhelt, Weicholt, Weichtol, and Wychtol. In Czech, the surname is spelled as Véchold, Vechal, Veyhal, and Vogel. In Dutch, Weichold is spelled as Weygholt, Weghold, Weijgheld, Weyhoud, and Weijghoudt.
In France, the name Wychold takes on various forms, such as Wechau, Wechot, Weichtau, Widtau, Weyhot, and Weichül. Lastly, the Spanish and Portugal forms of the Weichold surname are Weichal and Weychal.
Famous people with the name Weichold
- Joe Weichold: An American football Rayon Sports analyst and former defensive coach.
- Beate Weichold: A German alpine skier who competed in the 1960, 1964, and 1968 Winter Olympic Games.
- Mike Weichold: A former MLB manager and scout.
- Tatjana Weichold: An Austrian singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress.
- Dietmar Weichold: A German pianist, composer, and professor of music.
- Friedrich Wilhelm Weichold: A German born naturalized American chemist, noted for his inventions and significant contributions in the field of explosives.
- Joe Weichold Jr: A former defensive back for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League and a former assistant football coach for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
- Thomas Weichold: A German-born American physicist, specializing in acoustics.
- Hans Weichold: A prominent German botanist, best known for his work on plant anatomy.
- Hans Weichold Jr: A German theater director, playwright, professor, and dramaturge.